Electronic identification and credit card system



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, m1 inventor Robert lkJ-ledin 3,217,293 11/1965, M etz zssxemx Los Angeles County, California 3,237.]64 2/ 1966 Evans 235/619); {2]} Appl. No. 628,599 3,287,543 I I/i966 Halpern 235/6l.S(A)X [22] Filed April 5, 1967 3,355,576 li/l967 Childers 235161.7(B) [45] Patented Dec. 1, X970 7 3,394,246 7/l968 .Goldman.... 235/61] ['73] Assignee Digital Identification Systems, Inc 3,407,388 10/!968 Goldman v 235/6L7X S vallemCalifomia OTHER REFERENCES a Cowman ofcalmmm IBM Technical Disclosure- Bulletin -Crcdit Card Design" I I I V I by .l. Svigals-VolQ, No 3 August l966(235/6l.7(b)). on page [54] ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION AND CREDIT 3l4 I I I CARD SYSTEM I I I Primary Examiner-Daryl W. Cook I 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs. I I Assistant ExaminerRobert M. Kilgore 52 use! 235/619, Tddy I 194/4: 235/6l.l 1.235/6Ll2: 340/l49 I I v [5i] lnt.Cl.., G07f7/02, I ABSTRACTA-nidemitication key containing uni V que y coded t H04! slm'sok g electrical circuits is entered into a time-sharing computer ofSearch u, ...8...g...-.6..l"7 B I I sysem to verify credit g, debit or cred of 8 p nd- GU v 5 31 A ing account, and provide appropriate records of transactions. r v The terminal device for accepting the key replaces many of I i the functions of a conventional cash register. A central data [56] v 1 References cued I processor communicates with a number of remote terminal UNXTED'STATES PATENTS devices on a time-sharing basis, via interconnecting telephone l,573,l74 2/1926 Lesker ..235/6l.l2(C)X lines or other data links. Coding of the key is by means of per- 7 2,890,432 6/1959 Rockafellow... muted circuit closures providing approximately four trillion I 3,039,582 6/l962 Simjiam; unique codes with a forty-four pin key receptacle sufficient to 1 identify the entire worlds population.

r m/70? I Pmwmmm I 3544-169 SHEET 1 OF, 3v

PAT ENTEB BEE 1 ms SHEET 2 .OF 3

mama) hem mu SHEET ELECTRONIC IDENTIFICATION AND cItEnrrcAIm SYSTEM I BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the invention for other specified conditions of use.

This invention'relates to a data processing system for electronically identifying each of an extremely large number of individuals upon insertion of coded keys" into a .terminal device remotely located from a time-sharing central data processor. The key operates by closing a unique combination of circuit paths upon its insertion into a receiving receptacle in the terminal device. Additional data, relating to the par ticular transaction, may be entered into the central data processor by means of a companion keyboard or other data input device, such as a price ticket reader. The entered-data are read by the central data computer or processor and the a identified account is adjusted to conform with the nature of the transaction if the automatic verification step is succcss-. fully completed. 7

2. Description of the Prior Art There have been proposed, heretofore, various schemes for constructing automatic credit identification, verifying and auditing systems. Typical ones of such systems are shown in U.S.

Pat Nos. 1,927,556; 2,902,54l; and-3,221,304. While such I Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved binary' coded key-card system having an alarm which is responsive to preset credit limits,

It is still another objectof this invention and improved key-card and data processing system which is sufiiciently flexible to permit a'variety of modes of operation,

including updating, reyision, parity checking, fail-safe, etc.

' BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGS The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are setforth with'particularity in the appended claims. The present invention, but as to its organization and manner of operation, together with' further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: 1

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a key card employed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2, is an end elevational view of the key card shown in I FIG. I:

1 FIG. 3 is .a front elevational view of a remote terminal 'j'jdevice designed to accept the key-card of FIG. I;

keying device, required in a practical impiementation'of such a system. The present invention overcomes these -shortcomings of prior systems and additionally provides many advantages over prior methods and apparatus heretofore in-' tended to accomplish generally similar purposes.

SUMMARY or THE INVENTION The key element comprises a small insulated strip or card having disposed thereon a plurality of separate circuit paths arranged to correspond to a binary code uniquely identifying the "key" from all of the other keys made for use'uwith the system. The circuit paths of the key, upon being inserted into the receptacleof the terminaldevice, connect to a decoding matrix and its associated logic circuits. The matrix and logic circuits are periodically interrogated by a central computer coupled to the terminal device via a communications link. Related data, whether automatically or manually entered, are also transmitted to the computer for transaction processing. This arrangement permits automatic'deposit or withdrawal of funds, transmission of credit information, loan transactions,

and purchasing. Alarms and other control functions can optionally be obtained from the system, as will appear hereinafter. Other modifications are also possible. For example, if a key is physically lost or stolen, the system may be so FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the controland information signal handling employed in the remote terminal device as I I used at the site of a credit transaction;

FIG. 5, diagrammatically illustrated, in logic form, shows an overall key-card identification and credit accounting system.

constructed inaccordance with the invention; and 7 FIG. 6 is a schematic circuit diagram of a key-card encoding device. g

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. I, there is shown a key-card which is designed to mate'with'a receiving receptacle in the terminal device -of FIG. 2. "Typically, the key-card may comprise a 3 inch long X 74 inch wide X 1/16 inch thick plastic strip I having an integrally formed handle portion 2 which facilitates ill-I I sertion and removal of the key-card from its receptacle 'l'he ,conductors '3-9 which comprise the coding 'meansi ar wrapped around three sides of strip 1, and are disposed in a I plurality of vertically spaced rows. To facilitate teaching of the invention, only seven rows of conductors are shown. However,

it is contemplated that fifty or more rows could readily be -aca commodated. Each of the conductors is connected to a vertically extending common conductor 11, disposed along one end of each row. The opposite end of each row is left open and is adapted to engage mating conductors in the receptacle of v the terminal device. Additional details of the key-card itself filed Oct. 23, 1965,,now U.S. Pat No. 3,336,635, and entitled i BINARY CODED ELECTRONIC LOCK AND KEY.

advised and as a consequence, a subsequentattempt to utilize j the lost" or stolen key would trigger an alarm and prevent unauthorized use of the key. No transaction would take place with this lost or stolen key. If added security is required, upon recognition of abad key, the sensing current through the key could be stepped up to the point that it destroys the key. I

Having in mind the shortcomings of prior automatic credit auditing systems, it is an object of this invention to provide an automatic key identification and credit card system whichv The terminal device shown generally at 12 in FIG.;3 per-- forms certain functions of a cash register and additionally reads the data encoded in the key-card of FIG. 1. Key receptathe key is inserted in the receptacle 13. Coding of thekey-card v is effected by placing circuit discontinuities in certain ones of overcomes the difficulties and disadvantages of such prior Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved key card and reading apparatus-therefor utilizing a binary code for permuting the encoding therein.

conductors 3-9. For example, a completed circuitviaa given conductor corresponds to a binary "one" whereasan open circuit at a given conductor corresponds to a binary zero." The key-card shown in FIG. ltw'ill permit 2 combinations or separate Identifying codes-v Other detailsoi' this basic scheme are disclosed In the abovementioned copending application.

In addition to the key-card receptacle 1 13, the terminal device is provided with a ten-keymanual keyboard, indicated I generally at l-S. Anu'merical' display'l-ti permits the operator to read data' generated within thesystem. Control functions are provided by'the buttons marked reset," identity,

unauthorized use.

to provide a novel tively. Signal lamps 22-24 indicate the functions oftransac-" tion valid, overdrawn-banle-will finance". and reject,"

. system in a well-known manner Additionally, the key-cards may be'used to initiate certain kinds of supervisory and control functions, as will become apparent upon consideration of the following description of FIG. 5.- f

Upon insertion of the key-card 51 into receptacle 52, hinary-to-decimal diode matrix 53 converts the patron's binary coded identify data into a decimal printout and/or readout via gates 54-59, to display 61. Actual-readout is initiated by button 62.The operator then visually checks the patrons identity The key-card 19, encoded with'a given individuals social.

security number, account number, weight, height, hair color, eye color, complexion, sex, age, etc., is inserted into receptacle 13 to commence a transaction. Also, transaction information is manually entered into keyboard 15. The key-card data are decoded via matrix 27 and the keyboard data are encoded via matrix 28. The parallel binary digital code derived from matrices 27 and 28 is supplied to storage register 29. This register 29 may be interrogated via sequencer 31 which in turn is responsive to gate 32 and clock oscillator 33. Upon depressing buttons 17-20, and receiving an interrogate signal from-the data processor, a gate control signal will appear on line 34 via the interrogate control logic 35. This gate control signal 34' will open AND gate 32 and permit clock pulses from oscillator 33 to enter sequencer -31. The clock pulses supplied to sequencer 31 will cause storage register 29 to' be read out in a serial mode to output amplifier and data link 36. Also, this sequence of events will permit corresponding ones of signal lamps 22-24 to indicate the type of function being performed. This indicating function is accomplished via gate 37.

if desired, the terminal device 12 may be provided with a printer 38 which is responsive to the outputs of matrices 27- -28 via gate 39, and to control flip-flop 41, to record in numerical form the data entered both via the key-card 19 and the keyboard 15. I r

, if the information entered anddisplayed -or printed out, is I considered correct by the operator, the-transaction readybutton is depressed and the data are ready 'to be automatically transferred via cable 26. to processor 25. When the processor (height, eye color, etc.) with e data readout on the display '61. If the identity is verified then the operator manually enters the transaction data (pu chase price, refund, etc.) into the ten-key manual keyboard 63. Each decimal digit manually entered into the keyboard-63 will be transferred to a corresponding four-bit least significant (LS bit register 65, via corresponding ones of gates 71-75 /2Vhenthe next decimal digit is entered into the keyboard 63, the first (original) number in the LS3 register 651s first transferred to the next most significant register 67, and-erased from the LS8 register 65. This second (newly entered) number is then entered into the 1 cleared LSB register 65. This transfer sequence is repeated to 'higher-order-bit registers 68-69. until the transaction data are completely entered. The transferring and clearing functions are accomplished via counter 76 and gates 77-81 which sequentially seen each binary-coded decimal (BCD) register 65-69 each time a new key on the keyboard 63 is depressed. Alter completion of .the manual keyboard entry. the pri t and/or the display button 62 or 82 is depressed to permit verification of the operatorsen'try. if an error is detected by ing the registers to permit the correct entry to be made if sequences to this particular tcnninal device, in its time-sharing sequence, the-account number and the transactiondate (which are available in binary-coded form) are readout. account number-is recognized by the proc'emor 25 and the corresponding account tile is addressed. The patron s account .tileis appropriately debited or credited in accordance with the c I accompanying transaction data read out from the terminal device 12. if the'patron's account is o'verdrawn, but his credit is good, then the processor 25 will make appropriate financing notations in the file within'presetflimits. if there is an attempt made to overdraw the account beyond the preset limit, the reject signal lamp 24, at the terminal device 12, will be turned on. Alternatively, an indication-of a-valid transaction at lamps 22 or 23 will ensue and the processor 25 will sequence to the next terminal device in the system. if this next terminal device .the operator, the reset button 83 is depressed, thereby chr7- there are no errors, the ready button 84 is depressed and the 'terminal device'is made readyto transmit the data stored therein to the central data processor when sequentially interrogatcd. The output logic comprises gates 85-103, AND gate 104, and output amplifier 105. Clock pulses are generated by and 107-108 via AND gatelOQ. g

A plurality of terminal devicesrnay optionally be connected to the central data processor. -l-lowev er, a recognition code identifyingeach device, must be transmitted'along with the transaction data. Alternatively,' a recognition circuit may be 'wired directly to the processor; The various terminal devices are serially scanned and if a particular'terminal device is not in a condition to transmit data, it isskipped over and the nextterminal device in sequence is then scanned. if after a given iny ter'val (typically 0.5 milliseconds) no response or readout has been obtained, the central data processor will automatically step to the next terminal device. if the ready signal is present on line 111, the processorwill' stop scanning for approximately 10 milliseconds while the transaction data are transmitted.

' in either case, when a new terminal device is stepped to, the

is not in a ready mode, then the process automatically sequences to the next-in-line terminal device.

The circuit elements to accomplish the above described functions will be described in further detail in connection with FIG. 5..Details of the central data processor 25 are not ineluded herein since this portion of the system is beyond the scope of the present invention and also for the reason that this portion of the system may comprise any suitable electronic data processing machine (EDPM) of the type well-known and preceding device responds with an all-clear signal. In the absence of an all-clear signal, an error will be indicated on that terminal device which is bypassed until it can be restored to service. The preceding terminal device, which will now have been turned off, will not be interrogated again until all of the remaining terminal devices on the line have been scanned in sequence. Typically, a system can handle economically transactions per second and may interrogate 1,500 terminal devices before receiving the data comprising all 100 transactions.

widely used in the automatic processing of business data. As is well known to those versed in the art, these types of EDPM ap-. paratus comprise input-output units, an arithmetic unit, a

memory unit, and a controlunit. An EDPM suitable for use in the; system of thefipresent inver'rtion.isshoyvnin U18. Pat. No.

zpsasstenuuedp rAf'sTenAGE Npan, ass-mo, MACHINE. lt will be understood that various-kindsfof peripheralequipment,.-such-as disk filesrmagnetictape-recon" ders for historical 'fil1es; etc. may ';be added to the. "overall logic-eircu f The recognition circuit 1l2 comprises flip-flops 113-114, AND gate 115 and the appropriate input and output lines. A

- transaction ready signal originating with button 84 is sent to flip-flop 116, together with a control signal from gate 102. The output from flip-flop 116 is supplied on line 1 17v to gate 118, 1

ock synchronizing signal to gate nturnoperate orret sho't mule;

. oscillator 106 and supplied to the various registers 65-69,

Qipr c-videscontrolpulses gates and flip-flops. This is three-input AND gate and two 1K flip-flops connected as a two-stage counter. The circuit is initial lyreset to a starting condition'when all of the terminal then ready to be interrogated. When the advance pulse is devices have been scanned. Terminal devicenumber one is received on line 126 from the data processor, the AND gate 115 in terminal device number one is satisfied and thefirst stage 114 of its two-stage counter is set. The true output 8P? pearing on line 129 initiates the output gating and sequencing of the account number from the key-card, and also the transaction data from the keyboard registers 65-69 into the output amplifier and data link 105.

After the data processor response has been received on line 131 and displayed by display 61, an advance pulse on line 126 resets the first stage 114 and triggers the second stage of flipflop 113 to its set state; This action inhibits the AND gate 115.

of register 65 and opens the AND gateof register 66. This process is sequentially repeated until all of the registers 65- 69 have been scanned and the system is preset to its starting condition in preparation for a new interrogation cycle.

There is shown in FIG. 6 a schematic diagram of the key card encoding apparatus. A receptacle 141 .receives the un-' I coded key-card 142, having all of its circuit-path conductors 143-149 intact. The terminal end of each conductor 143- --149 connects to a corresponding contact on rotary switch 151. A power supply comprising transformer 152, rectifier 153, current-limiting resistor 154, and capacitor 155 supplies the'transaction daE to be serially read out from said data register means into said'communications link for serial transmission to said central data processor;

indicatinglogic means in saidremote terminal responsive to an indicating signal received from said central data processor, viasaid communications link, upon completion of the transmission of one complete set of said at;-

' count identity and transaction data codes, to indicate the .result of the transmission of said set of account identity provide a reset signal to said remote terminal; and

V a sequencer in said'remote terminal responsive to the reset 7 signal received from said central data processor, via said indicating logic means, to clear said data register means and reset said indicating logic means so as to be respon-' sive to the next-arriving indicating signal from said cen- "tral data processor. r g I 2. An electronic identification and transaction accounting system as defined in claim 1 including; indicator display means .connected to said data registration means for displaying sai accountide'ntity code and said transaction data. V v

accounting system as definedin claim ,2rincluding; recognition circuit I means in said'remote terminal to inhibit receipt ofsaid inter- I rogation signal-until said data .registermeans have been pro j 3. An electronic identification and transaction vided with both said account identity input and said transac tion data. a

a direct current to first conductor 143. The return path to the power supply ground 156 is via switch 157', rotary contact 158 of switch 151. When key-card 142 is placed in receptacle 141,

the first binary zero in the code is selected by suitably setting switch 151. Thereafter, switch 157 is closed and capacitor 155 I discharges through the fused section of the selected conductor 143-149 on the key-card 142. This permanently opens this v circuit path on the key-card, Successive binary zeros are similarly encoded. This means provides a simple and economical way to encode the key-cards. The code may be ascertained by rotating switch 151 throughits various steps while observ- #0 ing indicator lamp 159.,' 1 4 As can be seen, there is providedby the above-described system, a novel and improved device for peripheral connection to an EDPM system which will facilitate transmission of 1. in an electronic identification and transaction accounting system, a time-sharing remote terminal for interconnection,

via a communications link, with a central data processor, com prising: 1 I

key means permanently encoded with 'a parallel binarypermutation code for generating an account identity input signal to said terminal in the form of a parallel binary code; I keyboard means for manually generating decimally-coded transaction data at said remote terminal; code conversion means connected to said keyboard-means for translating said decimally-coded transaction data to a corresponding parallel binary code; 3 data register means having a parallel binary code input connected to said key means and said code conversion means for receiving and storing said parallel binary coded account identity input and said parallel binary coded transaction data; V

interrogate control logic, connected to said communica- 5 tions link and to said data register means, and responsive to an interrogation control signal received from said central data processor for causing the..ac count identity and 4. An electronic identification and transaction system, comprising: 1 v v v v a binary-coded key device containing identification data in the form of parallel open and closed circuits which may be sensed electrically'a's a parallel binary code; a terminal-device for selectively receiving said key device and cyclically acting to electrically sense said identification data and thereby generate a corresponding parallel binary coded identification signal with the ability to give an alarm and/or destroy the key in case ofillegal or stolen I vkey ;v first display means associated with said terminal device and responsive to said identification signal to said identification data in'parallel form;

I manually operatedkeyboard means associated withsaid ter 3 'minal .device for, selectively generating a parallel decimally-coded electrical transaction signal;

parallel-coded data from said keydevice and from said keyboard means toaserial format; I l

terminal device for cyclically receiving said identification and transaction signals in a serial mode from said data register means, and for performingarithmetic operations on said signals. to generate control pulses which are transmitted to said terminal device; 1 I

a data link coupled between said terminal device and said data processor means for'the serial transmission of said signals and said control-pulses therebetween; and

second display means associated with said terminal device and responsive to said control pulses received via said ing of said data processor means.-

An electronic identification and transaction system as, defined in claim 4 including; recordingmeans associated with 5 said terminal device and responsive to the output'of said data register means for visibly recording said identification and said i transaction data. o

' 6. An electronic identification and transaction system as terminus and as'eparat riminus'. i

and transaction data to said central data processor, and to visibly display data register means in said terminal device for-converting 1 data processor means remotely located with'respect to said data link to generate 'a visible indication of the function-' fusible circuit path conductors terminal devices interposed between corresponding ones of said terminal devices and said data link for sequentially coupling corresponding ones of said terminal devices with 7 said data processor.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, Dated December 1,

Robert A. Hedin Inventor(s) It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2 line 52, "3,336,635" should read 3,392,558

Signed and sealed this 25th day of July 1972.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Pater ORM PC4050 (10-69) u co -oc 503w 

